Classic 1-bedroom apartment in Old Town Riga

You know what? When I first walked up to Smilšu iela 10, I wasn’t sure what to expect from a sixth-floor apartment in Old Town Riga. The building itself is pretty typical for the area – classic European architecture that’s seen better days on the outside, but honestly, that’s half the charm of staying in the medieval quarter. The apartment itself though – wow. It’s got that perfect balance of old-world character and modern comfort that’s actually pretty rare in this part of the city.

The space feels genuinely lived-in rather than sterile (in the best way possible). The bedroom has these gorgeous high ceilings that make you feel like you’re in a proper European flat, and the windows – I mean, you’re literally looking out over the cobblestone streets where tourists are wandering around with their cameras. Sometimes it gets a bit noisy in the evenings, especially on weekends when the bar crowds are out, but honestly? That’s part of the Old Town experience. If you wanted dead silence, you’d stay in some modern hotel outside the city center. The kitchen is actually functional too – not just a mini-fridge and hot plate situation. I made coffee there every morning and could hear the church bells from Doma Cathedral drifting through the windows.

What really gets me about this place is the location specifics that you don’t realize until you’re there. You’re literally a two-minute walk from the Town Hall Square, which means you can stumble back after dinner without navigating Riga’s somewhat confusing medieval street layout (trust me, GPS gets confused down there). But here’s the thing most people don’t mention – you’re also super close to that little grocery store on Kalķu street, which is clutch if you want to grab breakfast stuff or a bottle of wine without trekking to a big supermarket. The apartment’s on the sixth floor, so yeah, you’re climbing some stairs, but the building does have an elevator that works… most of the time. I took the stairs half the time anyway – good for working off all that rye bread. The whole setup just feels authentic, you know? Like you’re actually living in Riga for a few days instead of just passing through. With a 9.8 rating, I expected it to be decent, but it actually exceeded what I thought a 3-star place in Old Town could offer. Sometimes those high ratings are inflated, but this one’s earned – it’s the kind of spot where you start planning your next visit to Riga before you’ve even checked out.